build off

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Jason Jessee, most of you may not know him, but in the skateboarding world, Jason is an established icon. To those who catch where I'm coming from his designs from way back Santa Cruz days were one of the most sought after. So what's that got to do with this entry? Two things:

1. I skated for about 10 years before hanging the board up when I got a full time job. Every punk in the neighborhood thought I was a dork pushing on tiny wheels all alone when everyone else was into BMX and sh&t. Those "everybody" eventually found themselves exchanging two wheels for four and also began pushing around the hood on tiny wheels. My friend and I would go out in the middle of the night and strip off all the billboards we could find and build out ramps. I built 3 6-foot quarter pipes. 2 served its purpose well and 1 suddenly went missing from its original spot, only to be found out later that the same "everybody" stole it and dragged it in front of their home so they could skate on it. I moved on to another city and joined a more forceful group that ripped sicker than we used to.

2. Jessee is a chopper builder and enthusiast, making a name for himself unknowingly in foreign places like Japan. His "Pray for Me" video chronicles his roots and direction, and how he affected much of the skateboarding world, not to mention a small crowd of speed freaks that have also created a new breed of choppers all on their own, the notorious NFK. They have their own spot in the video somewhere past the middle. But man, this is just an inkling of who they really are. They are the new heroes of the chopper world.

This is a sweet addition to the growing library in my personal stash. Too bad I ditched eating buttered popcorn. Woof!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Slimming Down

Skinny bars for Dante's Sporty.
24" wide - 8" base - 10" high -4.5" pullback = sweet handling.

(Well I did have to test em so don't laugh.)

You win bro. I'm a convert. I'm going in the opposite direction of chrome and custom. Converting my apes to low and skinny bars, high Frisco pegs, and finally, given enough courage, I'm slicing my tank in half to take out 4 inches in between. So that's why I found Special79's creations so damn beautiful. And yeah, Basara MC's article stuck real good too. This particular group spoke about what's been playing in my head ever since and is on the same level with my ideals.

Photos lifted off Church Of Choppers and Attack Choppers
Here's an excerpt from the No Future Krew in Tokyo. They ride fast. Really fast.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Evening Guest

My head was pretty messed up the whole day. It's like being draped under a wet blanket of tangible stress. I was melancholic. And loving it.

Riding has always provided me with a means of escape from my everyday train of thoughts. Tonight I brought home a guest with a minor nostril issue. Cicero's prized steed. Doodling with metal, particularly welding, was also a welcome treat. There was a clean break from the previous weld, right down the middle of the puddle itself. It looked pretty nasty but there was the challenge staring at me in the face. After I donned my armor it took a short but sweet while to sew the brace back on.

Also met a new soul, Jun at our usual haunt at Cafe Lipa. Too bad I didn't bring my camera. He had his gorgeous VMax with him fresh from a wheel change, (..man, P1500 for front and wheel installation..? That doesn't include actual tire change, which is a separate charge. Geez.. it pays to know where to go when in need of things. That labor wouldn't cost more than P150.) A quick zip around Mall of Asia and I bid Brutus good night at Gil's shop. He needs new shoes what with all the threads in his old tires showing up.